[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17617-17619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING NATIONAL SPELLING BEE CHAMPION, FINALISTS, AND 
                              PARTICIPANTS

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1494) congratulating the champion, finalists, and 
all other participants in the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling 
Bee, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1494

       Whereas the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest 
     and longest-running educational promotion in the United 
     States, and is administered by the E.W. Scripps Company of 
     Cincinnati, Ohio;
       Whereas the Scripps National Spelling Bee promotes 
     educational excellence by encouraging students to improve 
     their spelling, expand their vocabularies, learn new 
     concepts, and develop a mastery of the English language;
       Whereas the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee was 
     held in Washington, DC, from June 2 through June 4, 2010;
       Whereas 273 spellers from across the United States, 
     American Samoa, the Bahamas, Canada, China, Department of 
     Defense Schools in Europe, Ghana, Guam, Jamaica, Japan, New 
     Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United States 
     Virgin Islands all competed for the title;
       Whereas these students had previously qualified for the 
     contest by winning locally sponsored spelling bees and all 
     have shown a strong knowledge of the English language;
       Whereas Anamika Veeramani, a 14-year-old resident of North 
     Royalton, Ohio, and an 8th grade student at Incarnate Word 
     Academy, achieved the distinct honor of becoming the 83rd 
     Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee champion;
       Whereas Ms. Veeramani, after finishing in 5th place in the 
     2009 National Spelling Bee, earned her right to compete in 
     2010 by winning the Plain Dealer Cuyahoga County Scripps 
     Spelling Bee on March 6, 2010, for the second consecutive 
     year;
       Whereas Ms. Veeramani won the competition in the 9th round 
     by correctly spelling ``stromuhr'', defined as a tool that 
     measures the speed of blood through an artery;
       Whereas Adrian Gunawan of Arlington Heights, Illinois, 
     Elizabeth Platz of Shelbina, Missouri, and Shantanu Srivatsa 
     of West Fargo, North Dakota, are recognized for tying for 
     second place at the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling 
     Bee;
       Whereas Mr. Gunawan, Ms. Platz, and Mr. Srivatsa advanced 
     to the 8th round of the competition by correctly spelling 
     ``netsuke'', ``gnocchi'', and ``infundibuliform'', 
     respectively;
       Whereas Laura Newcombe of Toronto, Canada, Lanson Tang of 
     Potomac, Maryland, Joanna Ye of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and 
     Andrew Grose of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, are recognized for 
     advancing to the 7th round of the 83rd Annual Scripps 
     National Spelling Bee, thereby tying for 5th place in the 
     competition; and
       Whereas all the competitors are deserving of 
     congratulations for their hard work and poise demonstrated in 
     this difficult competition: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates all the contestants of the 83rd Annual 
     Scripps National Spelling Bee; and
       (2) recognizes the dedication and achievement of 
     competition winner Anamika Veeramani and the other finalists 
     Adrian Gunawan, Elizabeth Platz, Shantanu Srivatsa, Laura 
     Newcombe, Lanson Tang, Joanna Ye, and Andrew Grose.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Bilbray) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 1494, a resolution congratulating the 
champion, finalists, and all other participants in the 83rd annual 
Scripps National Spelling Bee.
  H. Res. 1494 was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from 
Ohio, Representative Betty Sutton, on June

[[Page 17618]]

30, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, which ordered it to be reported favorably by unanimous consent 
on September 23, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 50 
Members of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is a 2-day competition 
held in May or early June each year here in Washington, D.C. Students 
from around the country and around the world compete in local and 
regional spelling bees for a chance to take part in this highly 
competitive event.
  The participants compete for prizes, including scholarships, savings 
bonds, reference materials and cash; but this and other spelling bees 
serve the greater purpose of encouraging students to improve their 
vocabularies, spelling, and appropriate grammar usage. As the largest 
and longest running educational promotion in the country, the 
competition gets national coverage on cable and network television, 
further promoting its educational ideals to millions of viewers.
  This year's winner was Anamika Veeramani, an eighth grade student at 
Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights, Ohio, who won the bee with the 
word ``stromuhr,'' defined as a tool that measures the speed of blood 
through an artery. And I dare Members of Congress to try to spell the 
word.
  Mr. Speaker, let us now take a moment to congratulate this remarkable 
young student and all of the other participants in the 83rd annual 
Scripps National Spelling Bee through the passage of H. Res. 1494. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 1494, and ask for support of the 
bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may 
consume to our colleague from Ohio, the sponsor of the bill, 
Representative Betty Sutton.
  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anamika Veeramani of 
North Royalton, Ohio. Anamika is a resident of the 13th Congressional 
District of Ohio, which I am so honored to represent. Anamika won the 
83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee championship on Friday, June 4, 
2010, and she brings back to Ohio the first national spelling bee title 
since 1964.

                              {time}  1530

  The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest and longest-running 
educational promotion in the United States and is administered by the 
E.W. Scripps Company located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
  Anamika put in the hard work necessary to achieve this great 
accomplishment. By working hard, students learn that anything is 
possible, including spelling difficult and complex words. She won the 
Plain Dealer Cuyahoga County Scripps Spelling Bee on March 6 for the 
second year in the row. By winning the spelling bee in northeast Ohio, 
Anamika advanced to the national competition here in Washington, D.C.
  To win the title, Anamika correctly spelled the name of a tool that 
measures the speed of blood through an artery called ``stromuhr.''
  With opportunities like the Scripps National Spelling Bee, children 
are given the chance to learn and succeed and build the confidence that 
they need moving forward. By winning the bee, she won $30,000 and a 
trophy from Scripps, a $5,000 scholarship from Sigma Phi Epsilon 
Educational Foundation, a $2,500 savings bond from Merriam-Webster, and 
more than $3,500 worth of reference material from Encyclopedia 
Britannica and Merriam-Webster.
  These winnings will help her reach for her dream of attending college 
and one day becoming a cardiovascular surgeon, and perhaps she will 
have a head start on her colleagues, knowing how to clearly say and 
spell ``stromuhr.'' With the kind of hard work and dedication she 
showed in this competition, anything is within her reach. I would like 
to congratulate Anamika on this terrific achievement.
  I would also like to recognize all the finalists, Adrian Gunawan, 
Elizabeth Platz, Shantanu Srivatsa, Laura Newcombe, Lanson Tang, Joanna 
Ye, and Andrew Grose. And congratulations are due to all the students 
who participated in the spelling bee.
  I want to applaud also all of the teachers, parents, and students for 
their commitment to this great program.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the participants in 
the Scripps National Spelling Bee and to particularly congratulate my 
constituent, Mr. Lanson Tang of Potomac, Maryland, who tied for fifth 
place in the competition.
  The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's oldest educational 
promotion, now in its 83rd year. Through spelling, students increase 
their vocabularies and improve English usage, skills that will stay 
with them throughout their lives.
  I congratulate all the participants, especially my constituent, 
Lanson Tang, a homeschooled student from Potomac, Maryland. Lanson made 
it to the seventh of nine rounds in the competition, correctly spelling 
words like ``rhabdomyoma,'' ``obelisk,'' and ``flabellum.'' He has made 
our community proud. I also want to thank the Fourth Presbyterian 
School in Potomac for hosting the Montgomery County Regional Spelling 
Bee for the second year in a row this year.
  All of the spellers this year should be proud of their outstanding 
accomplishments. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending 
congratulations to these terrific students.
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
1494.
  Our nation's future rests on the shoulders of our youth, and the 
exceptional dedication and intelligence displayed by all of the 
students who took part in the 84th Scripps National Spelling Bee 
earlier this year gives me great confidence that our future will be a 
bright one.
  As the largest and longest-miming educational promotion in the United 
States, this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee brought together 273 
spellers from all over the United States and across the world. The 
rigorous preparation and diligence required by these students to 
compete at this international level is truly incredible.
  I would specifically like to recognize Shantanu Srivatsa, a student 
at Cheney Middle School in West Fargo, North Dakota, for tying for 
second place in this competition. This was Shantanu's third consecutive 
appearance at the Spelling Bee, and I was impressed to learn that his 
favorite subject in school is in fact mathematics, and that in addition 
to his participation in the spelling bee, he also represents his school 
at regional and state mathematics competitions.
  When reviewing the words Shantanu correctly spelled to make it to the 
highest levels of the competition, I am astounded by his command of the 
English language. Though I represent a state with a large sugar beet 
industry, I must admit that I did not know that a cossette was part of 
the sugar refining process--and I certainly did not know how to spell 
it. Thanks to Shantanu, I now know that it is cossette, C-O-S-S-E-T-T-
E.
  Lest this example lead one to suspect that Shantanu's vocabulary was 
limited to the geographically proximate--his correct spelling of 
schlieren, that would be S-C-H-L-I-E-R-E-N, clearly demonstrates that 
the breadth of his knowledge includes subjects, or more precisely 
substances, that would be exceedingly rare in North Dakota due to the 
geologic history of the northern Great Plains.
  Students like Shantanu and all of the other participants in this 
competition not only represent the best students in our nation, but 
also exemplify the ideals of hard work, dedication, and poise that are 
an inspiration to us all.
  Please join me in supporting all of the Scripps National Spelling Bee 
participants who have demonstrated the highest levels of academic 
achievement by supporting this resolution.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1494, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

[[Page 17619]]



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